Unit 5: Emergence of the Modern United States (1890-1920)
At the turn of the century, Americans continued to struggle with contradictory values. On the one hand, groups worked to reform the problems of industrialization, segregation, and corruption and establish more opportunity for more people. On the other hand, many Americans hoped to dominate other peoples of the world in order to compete with the economic powers of Europe. The United States' desire for overseas power, however, was limited to trade and economic expansion. When the call came from Britain and France to help fight in World War I, many Americans did not want to get involved. With Europe in ruins at the end of the Great War, the United States emerged as an international power of the modern 20th century.


TEXTBOOK CHAPTERS:
Chapter No. in Book
Chapter Title
Chapter No. in Computer
13
The Progressive Era
17
14
An Emerging World Power
18
15
World War I and Beyond
19






MAJOR CONCEPTS: Industrialization, Reform, Progressivism, Capitalism, Socialism, Regulation, Segregation, Equal Rights, Progressive Presidents, Environmental Conservation, Antitrust Laws, Imperialism, Social Darwinism, Racism, Spheres of Influence, Militarism, Alliances, Nationalism, Isolationism, Internationalism, Communism

  • Progressives pick up where the Populists left off, pushing for government legislation that would regulate business, working conditions, and political corruption.
  • Progressive lawmakers abandon the Gilded Age laissez-faire philosophy and create laws to regulate bad business practices and corrupt elections.
  • Women push for social changes and win the right to vote.
  • Prejudice and discrimination continue to make it difficult for minorities to achieve equal rights.
  • Businesses look overseas for new customers to sell their goods to. Victory over Spain gives the United States economic and military power over the Western Hemisphere.
  • The United States attempts to establish a market presence in Asia.
  • As Europe bogs down in World War I, the United States sends troops to end the fighting and takes a more powerful position in world affairs as a result.
  • The United States experiences both an increase in federal power and a backlash against freedom of speech during the war effort.


Unit 5 Day 1
Topics: Progressivism, muckrakers (Steffens, Riis, Tarbell, Sinclair), Social Gospel, settlement house, direct primary, initiative, referendum, recall, 17th amendment

Learning Objectives
Students will:
  • Explain conditions that led to Progressivism.
  • Assess how Progressives worked toward social reform.
  • Assess how Progressives fought corruption in government.

Quickwrite: Name one similarity and one difference between Populists and Progressives.

Homework: Read Ch. 13.2 & 13.3 (Honors: Complete Charts)

Unit 5 Day 2
Topics: Women's rights, National Consumers League, birth control, suffrage, 19th amendment,
Americanization, Niagara Movement, NAACP, racial prejudice

Learning Objectives
Students will:
  • Analyze how women made progress during the Progressive Era and won the right to vote.
  • Evaluate the varying approaches of women's groups in fighting for suffrage.
  • Assess strategies that other minority groups used to defend their rights.

Quickwrite: Name three ways that Ida B. Wells fought for social justice.

Remembering the Triangle Factory Fire

Homework: Read Ch. 13.4 & 13.5 (Honors: Complete Charts)

Unit 5 Day 3
Topics: Progressive presidents (Roosevelt, Taft, Wilson), regulation, conservation, Progressive Party, Election of 1912, Progressive legislation and amendments

Learning Objectives
Students will:
  • Describe the changing role of government at the turn of the 20th century.
  • Compare the approaches of the Progressive presidents.
  • Analyze the impact of Progressive legislation.

Quickwrite: Describe Theodore Roosevelt's rise to the presidency.

Homework: Read Ch. 14.1 & 14.2 (Honors: Complete Charts)


Unit 5 Day 4
Topics: Imperialism, commodities, military and naval strength, annexation of Hawaii, Cuban revolution, yellow press, jingoism, Spanish American War, Treaty of Paris (1898)

Learning Objectives
Students will:
  • Examine why the US took a more active role in world affairs at the turn of the 20th century.
  • Describe the impact of US policies in Hawaii and the Caribbean.
  • Determine the causes and effects of the Spanish-American War.

Quickwrite: What is the main difference between Social Darwinism and Social Gospel?

Homework: Read Ch. 14.3 & 14.4 (Honors: Complete Charts)

Unit 5 Day 5
Topics: Filipino insurrection, spheres of influence, Boxer Rebellion, Open Door Policy, Great White Fleet, Platt Amendment, "big stick" diplomacy, Roosevelt Corollary, "dollar" diplomacy, "moral" diplomacy

Learning Objectives
Students will
  • Describe the impact of US policies in the Philippines, China, and Japan.
  • Compare the foreign policies of the early 20th century Progressive presidents.

Quickwrite: What is the definition of "imperialism"? Do you think the U.S. is an imperialist country?

Homework:

Unit 5 Day 6
Topics:

Learning Objectives
Students will:
  • (see Day 5 above)

Quickwrite: Name three effects of US imperialism in the early 20th century.

US Intervention in Latin America

Homework: Read Ch. 15.1 & 15.2 (Honors: Complete Charts)

Unit 5 Day 7
Topics: Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism, Western Front, Isolationism, Neutrality, U-boats, Zimmermann Note, federal power, Espionage Act, Great Migration

Learning Objectives
Students will:
  • Determine the causes of the First World War.
  • Analyze the changes in US policy from isolationism to involvement.
  • Assess the effects of the war on American society.

Quickwrite: Which Progressive president seemed to intervene in Latin American affairs more than the others?

SAS #933: World War I

Homework: Read Ch. 15.3 & 15.4 (Honors: Complete Charts)

Unit 5 Day 8
Topics: Bolshevik Revolution, Doughboys, "peace without victory," Fourteen Points, League of Nations, Treaty of Versailles, Palmer Raids, Sacco & Vanzetti trial, Election of 1920, creditor nation

Learning Objectives
Students will:
  • Analyze the turning points of the First World War.
  • Determine the effects of the First World War.
  • Analyze how the rise of communism in the Soviet Union contributed to the Red Scare in the US.

Quickwrite: Who was to blame for starting World War I?

SAS#391: Treaty of Versailles

Homework: Study for Unit 5 test on chapters 13-15.

Unit 5 Day 9
Topics:

Learning Objectives
Students will:
  • (See Day 8 above.)

Quickwrite: Name one major difference between propaganda and persuasion.
Propaganda

Homework: Study for Unit 5 test on chapters 13-15.

Unit 5 Test Day
Study Guide
Homework: Read Ch. 16.1 & 16.2


Links:
US History Textbook Site

US Economy in World War I

The US and World War I

Women in World War I

African Americans and World War I

The Red Scare